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JessiJanuary 2025

Proofreading AI Translations

Proofreading AI Translations:

How to Unlock the Full Potential of Your Machine Translations

 

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed the translation industry. More and more companies are using AI-powered translation tools for their multilingual communication. However, to achieve truly professional results, expert proofreading of machine translations is essential.

Why is Proofreading Important for AI Translations?

Machine translation systems have made enormous progress in recent years. They often deliver surprisingly good raw translations that correctly convey the basic content. However, there remain typical weaknesses that can only be addressed through professional proofreading (known in industry terms as "post-editing"):

  • Language subtleties and cultural nuances are often not optimally captured by AI systems. For example: While AI might technically correctly translate "Unser Team steht Ihnen zur Verfügung" as "Our team is at your disposal," a professional proofreader would likely opt for the more natural-sounding "Our team is here to help you."
  • Technical terminology and company-specific terms must be used consistently. The AI might translate "Wartung" sometimes as "maintenance" and other times as "service" – proofreading ensures unified communication.
  • Text structure and formatting sometimes aren't optimally preserved in machine translation. Professional proofreaders ensure target audience-appropriate text design.

 

The Difference Between Traditional Proofreading and Post-Editing

In common usage, the term "proofreading" is often used when discussing text revision. In the translation industry, we use the more precise term "post-editing" when referring to the revision of machine translations. This process goes beyond traditional proofreading:

Traditional Proofreading

  • Focus on spelling, grammar, and punctuation
  • Verification of linguistic correctness
  • Improvement of reading flow

Post-Editing of AI Translations

  • Additional review of translation quality
  • Adaptation of culture-specific elements
  • Ensuring terminological consistency
  • Optimization for target audience and intended use

 

Practical Examples of Improvement Through Proofreading

Let's look at some concrete examples of how professional proofreading optimizes AI translations:

Example 1: Marketing Text

  • AI Translation: "Our software makes your work more efficient."
  • After Proofreading: "Boost your productivity with our innovative software solution."

Example 2: Technical Documentation

  • AI Translation: "Press the red button to start the system."
  • After Proofreading: "Activate the red start/stop button to initiate system operation."


Quality Assurance by tolingo

At tolingo, we employ a multi-stage process to optimize your AI translations:

Our Quality Standards

  • Deployment of highly qualified expert proofreaders with relevant industry knowledge
  • Use of state-of-the-art quality assurance tools
  • Strict adherence to terminology guidelines
  • Documentation of all changes for maximum transparency

Technical Infrastructure

  • Integrated terminology databases
  • AI-powered quality checking
  • Version control and change tracking
  • Secure data storage in accordance with ISO 27001

 

Conclusion

Professional proofreading of your AI translations is the key to optimal utilization of machine translation technology. It combines the efficiency of AI with the linguistic and technical expertise of human specialists. tolingo supports you in unlocking the full potential of your multilingual communication – efficiently, with high quality, and tailored to your target audience.

 

Contact

Contact us today to learn more about our proofreading and post-editing services. Our experts are happy to advise you on the optimal solution for your specific requirements.

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